Customer Reviews

Bad Girls of Film Noir, Vol. 2 (Night Editor / One Girl's Confession / Women's Prison / Over-Exposed)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've seen all of these films before, but never realized they were Columbias until now. I always figured they were the work of bigger studios. Mainly using unknown directors and stars, these noirs deliver in both plot and atmosphere. The only one that is a little odd and formulaic is "Women's Prison", but it is still an OK film. The four films in this set are:

Night Editor (1946) directed by Henry Levin - The best film noir with stars and a director you've probably never heard of. As a result of that, you've probably never heard of this film. A married cop is having an affair. One night while out with his mistress, they witness a murder. The cop wants to come forward with the information he has, but realizes his life will be ruined when it gets out why he was at the scene at the time. The mistress, however, doesn't have any problem with keeping quiet.

One Girl's Confession (1953) directed by Hugo Haas - The largely unknown Haas also wrote and starred in this film, but fear not, this is no Ed Wood movie. Cleo Moore stars as Mary Adams, the badly treated employee of a man who owns a run-down cafe. The man has cheated her father out of his money several years before, so she steals a large sum from him, hides the money, turns herself in, confesses but claims she has spent the money, and serves a small jail term. She figures she'll later be free to spend the money she should have had in the first place since the money is safely hidden. Or is it? A very good and ironic noir.

Over-Exposed (1956) directed by Lewis Seiler - Cleo Moore again stars, this time as Lila Crane, a dancer who gets hauled in one night because the place she works for is running an illegal operation. A journalist/photographer takes her picture and she demands it back. Oddly enough, he gives it to her and then teaches her all about photography. Turns out Lila has a talent for the job, but she also has a talent for rackets, and uses one to make her new photographer friend's business more profitable. Eventually she strikes out on her own and heads for New York City. Once there she runs into an assortment of characters and obstacles that get her in over her street-wise head. Generally not that well admired a film, but I really like it.

Women's Prison (1956) directed by Lewis Seiler - This one is different from the first three in that it has A stars and a B plot. Make that a B-. Like the title would have you guess, this is a film about females in the big house. Ida Lupino plays the sadistic warden of the women's prison, and Audrey Totter plays the unjustly jailed innocent that is the object of Lupino's cruelty. For some strange reason, the men's prison has been built right next door to the women's prison. In a foreseeable byproduct of this architectural faux-pas, a male inmate finds a way to get into the women's prison to visit his wife (Audrey Totter). She becomes pregnant, and this sets up the real drama in the film. Unintentionally funny and thick with prison cliches and overacting up to the last twenty minutes or so, this one is an OK film but not a great noir by any means.

BONUS FEATURE:
Remember to Live-All Star Theatre Episode

This collection of "film noirs" from Columbia Pictures is really exciting news for fans of the "bad girl" genre for three of the titles star the "Queen of the B Movie Bad Girls" herself, Miss Cleo Moore!! Cleo Moore (1928-1973) was a sexy blonde with a fabulous figure who unlike most blonde bombshells in Hollywood starred in film noirs rather than comedies or musicals. During the 1950's she was fairly famous and popular if never rising above B star status starring in almost a dozen sexy films, minor releases from major studios. Cleo sadly did not live to see her achieving cult status during the 1990's with these pulp novel movies and fans have had to hunt for these movies which only once in a very blue moon would play on cable but now at last three of them brought together in a DVD set appropiately enough titled "Bad Girls of Film Noir".

My small complaints are (1) the generic artwork cover is not very attractive, surely one of those sensational vintage movie posters that were so essential in selling "bad girl" movies to the public in the 1950's would have been a better choice and it's particularly distressing to see the cover girl, whoever she is, is not Cleo given that she stars not only in three of the four movies here but also the bonus item, a 1954 television drama. I also think the 1946 picture NIGHT EDITOR starring the likable Janis Carter is not quite a correct match for this set given it's a decade older than the other films, one wonders why Sony didn't go whole hog and give us four Cleo Moore movies, or at least make the fourth film one starring one of her contemporaries. An ideal choice would have been THE BURGLAR(1957) starring another one of the great 50's sexpots, Jayne Mansfield, in her only film at Columbia. Still, one can hardly complain about the given what a thrill it is for Cleo fans and bad girl buffs to see this set being released!!

OVER-EXPOSED is my favorite of the trio; an underrated gem with Cleo playing a dance hall floozy who begins a remarkable legit career as photographer and rises to the top albeit unable to shake off her scheming ways. Her leading man here is Richard Crenna in one of his earliest roles. Almost as good is ONE GIRL'S CONFESSION with Cleo as the ward of a crook isn't above some shady dealing herself. Cleo has a secondary part (with third billing) in the cult film WOMEN'S PRISON which has a camp classic star turn from Ida Lupino as the prison matron from hell but she's a delight as a dim-witted Southern prisoner who helps Jan Sterling lead a revolt.

These sensational little films show how well the old studios produced even their modest programmers with tight editing and good direction and acting. Let's hope there's "Moore" Cleo on the way from Sony - they also own her features BAIT and STRANGE FASCINATION!!

I thought this set was better than vol 1, even though it sells for less. In Night Editor, Janis Carter steals the show with a knockout performance. William Gargan lacks emotional conviction in his lethargic performance. Women`s Prison although a little dated today and somewhat "hollywood", was a real winner with it`s outstanding cast, especially Ida Lupino. Over Exposed (barely a film noir) is a good melodrama, but with Cleo Moore who cares. One Girl`s Confession is another Cleo Moore film. Again, borderline film noir but well worth seeing. Also there is a 30 min. TV program with Cleo Moore, which I haven`t watched yet.

Like all of the other reviewers, I am an avid film noir fan; so it was with delight that I purchased this set at a discount. However, I cannot in good conscience grant the same rave reviews that many of the other reviewers bestowed. Still, I am glad that I purchased this collection. As the films are all B-Movies, you don't expect top notch dialog and acting or elaborate set pieces. In fact, the lack of polish often adds to the enjoyment of the genre. As long as you don't expect "The Third Man" or "Double Indemnity" these little offerings can make for fun viewing.

When I realized I had missed Vol. 1, I quickly ordered it. This one was so good. Great clothes, themes and one liners.

DVD transfer: All films are B&W in full screen presentation. The picture quality is very good to excellent which helps with my rating (extra star)

Once again, as with Volume 1, not every film in this package is true film noir but every film features at least 1 actress known for that type of film and character(femme fatale).

Night Editor: **** This may be the closest example to definitive noir of the entire set. Janis Carter plays Jill Merrill, a true femme fatale in every sense of the character. Not only is she gorgeous and sexually promiscuous but she is, by far, the most lethal of the ladies in this series. William Gargan plays detective Tony Cochran, a married everyman cop who gets involved in adultry with Jill. Our femme fatale likes rough men and Tony fills the bill just fine. Tony feels guilty but when he tries to break up with Jill at a remote beach, the two witness a brutal murder. Tony can't act since it would expose his infidelity and Jill wants him quiet too. The film unfolds as Tony tries to move the investigation away from a possible witness (based on tire tracks). The case seems done when the police arrest a local thug who is found with the murdered woman's jewelry. Case closed? Not by a long shot. This film should delight most film noir fans.

One Girl's Confession: *** Cleo Moore plays the lead, a larcenous lady named Mary who steals from her boss, a man involved in criminal activity. She willingly confesses to the crime but refuses to hand over the money. She goes to prison and becomes a model prisoner, looking for an early release and her $25,000. After she gets out, she becomes wary of the money and those that might take it from her. She bides her time until....
This film features Cleo in one of her sexier roles and is a favorite of Cleo Moore fans.

Women's Prison: *** Now this movie is definitely not film noir but it is interesting, none the less. Ida Lupino stars as prison administrator, Amelia van Zandt, a vindictive and cruel woman who dishes out one inhuman punishment after another. Howard Duff (Ida's real life husband) plays the good doctor who keeps resisting van Zandt's treatment of the ladies. Jan Sterling recreates her raucous blond inmate first seen in "Caged". Cleo Moore is also here as a sympathic Southern gal. Audrey Totter plays a married inmate who's husband is right next door in the men's prison. This doesn't work out at all but that's all I'll say. Women's Prison is almost a pattern for prison movies and there is nothing new or unusual here. Still, it's worth a look as all the actors do a good job.

Over-exposed: *** Cleo Moore stars as Lily/Lila, a "Bar Girl" who, after being busted for "hustling" customers at a local night spot, is told to leave town. Instead, she hooks up with an old photographer, Max(Raymond Greenleaf), who teaches her the profession. Lily soaks it up. She changes her name to Lila and moves up the ladder working nightclubs as a photo gal. Her first big break comes after she threatens a local hood with pictures of him and forces him to give her the photo concession at a very high class bar, Club Coco. Her talents reach beyond that as she makes her name as a fashion photographer as well. Her past and unsavory friends catch up with her though. I must say here that Cleo should have worn her hair pulled back more often as she was a very lovely lady with that fashion.

All things considered, this is a worthwhile package considering you get 4 films for the price.

Recommended for: Cleo Moore fans, film noir fans although very limited here. All the films should be rated PG but the subject material is not suitable for younger children.

I expected much and the greater was my disappointment, when I watched these 4 movies. I addition I am not a particular fan of Cleo Moore. To be honest I didn't even know her which may be due to the fact that this actress never was very popular in Germany. Even more because she quit film business in 1957 already to marry a millionaire.
Anyway: My favourites are 'Night Editor' with a memorable Janis Carter and 'Woman's Prison' with some good acting by Ida Lupino and Phyllis Thaxter. Not to forget Howard Duff - Lupinos spouse - in a convincing role as the prison's medical adviser. Picture quality is excellent and so are the extras (all trailers and some picks from Columbias archive treasures).
Summerizing the question is: Is this really film noir? The answer is: Partly...

The only really BAD girl is to be seen in "Night Editor" (1946), a classical B film noir in which a cop witnesses a murder, but hesitates to arrest the murderer because he'd have to confess adultery with an indeed very bad femme fatale (Janis Carter). It's quite good entertainment which I'd rate four stars.

The other three pictures feature Cleo Moore, although she has only a minor role in "Women's Prison" (1955), starring Ida Lupino as a sardonic, but also somehow psychopathic warden, in which she is quite good, but the characters and the photography are far from being as elaborated an in "Caged" with Eleanor Parker (see e.g. Silver/Ursini, Film Noir). I'd rate it three stars, although it contains a greeeat Bette Davis imitation scene;-)

"One Girl's Confession" (1953) has a powerful beginning and some fascinating scenes ("It's a deal", says Cleo Moore, "signing" it with a looong kiss...), but turns into a morally-driven crime-doesn't-pay-sermon in the second half. I'd thus rate it three stars.

"Over-Exposed" (1956) is much better and sometimes great fun! Cleo Moore as a photographer not only attracts men, but the audience as a whole, demonstrating that sex sells and that both photographs and photographers may be well manipulating. Unfortunately, the flash girl has to be turned into a housewife by an overacting Richard Crenna. Nevertheless, it's great entertainment which is clearly aware of being "over-exposed" and delivers it with lots of wit and fun. Four stars.

As one can be glad that these not-so-well known movies are available in good quality and with subtitles, I rate the entire box four stars.

First, these were a gift for my wife, and she liked them very much. On that alone, I should perhaps have given them 5 stars. But having watched most of them with her, it is hard to rate anything less than a classic that high. They are what they are, Film Noir. Pretty simple stories; short and to the point. The acting and plots are typical to the genre. The condition of the transfers was fine. Era excepted, nothing particularly racy about these. A lot of pleasant viewing for an old movie fan.

Would love to talk about the movies but I've yet to receive my pre- ordered copy a month after its release. Amazon of course just give the usual guff about international delivery times, but they must use the SLOWEST COURIERS ON THE PLANET !
Some day my discs will come.....